A DOCTOR is to have his case reviewed after his fitness to practise was found impaired following a drug driving conviction.

The case of Dr Faisal Nawaz will be heard later this month, with the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service confirming they will be reviewing the case.

Dr Faisal Nawaz, who qualified in 2017 and was in year two of his foundation training with the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, was convicted in 2019 for one count of dangerous driving and two counts of driving under the influence of cocaine.

Nawaz managed to avoid a custodial sentence but as a result of his conviction was asked to attend a tribunal in which his fitness to practise as a doctor would be assessed.

The tribunal, which took place at the start of April, heard because of his arrest and initial court appearances, Nawaz had been absent from work since February 14, 2019 - except for a spell in intensive care in 2020 - and had therefore not kept up with his medical skills and knowledge, impacting his ability to practice.

The tribunal determined that because of this and because of his convictions, his fitness to practise was impaired and ordered conditions to be placed upon his registration, including the allocation of a supervisor during his phased return to work.

Nawaz stated he wanted to continue his medical career and told the tribunal: "I desperately want to be able to put these last few years behind me and return to a feeling of being proud of myself, of my family being proud of me and of being able to serve patients."

He told the hearing he was "deeply ashamed of his actions" and the fact of the convictions and understood such behaviour was unacceptable for a doctor and would "undermine public confidence in the profession".

Nawaz’s registration as a doctor is was then subjected to a number of conditions until May 13, and will now be reviewed on May 12.